The link between music and graphic design has been known for many years with the clash of creative minds leading to the development of some of the most iconic music and images ever created. New York creative, Jeffrey English Hoboken believes the 1960s and 70s were the iconic times for the launch of iconic album covers, such as The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by pop artist Peter Blake and Jann Haworth that remains a cultural touchstone. Despite the shift towards a new way of looking at music launched and streamed online, the work of graphic designers remains vital to attracting listeners and reflecting the creative ideas of musicians on a range of platforms. In 2019, the graphic design sector was worth an estimated $15 billion in the U.S. alone, according to Finances Online.

1. Creating a Visual Reflection of the Musician

The graphic design sector has been an important one for generations in the music industry, but the way musicians and graphic designers interact is changing. The main reason for this, in the view of Jeffrey English Hoboken is the many different ways music is delivered in the 21st-century. For most graphic designers, the starting point for their design will be the music of the artist and the image they wish to portray to the public. Looking back at the career of legendary musicians including David Bowie and Bryan Ferry, the role of art school and cultural changes are easy to identify. Understanding each individual makes it easy for a graphic designer to give an understanding of the musician in a few simple images.

2. Catching the eye Through Different Media

There is a range of different ways music is delivered through streaming services and through the resurgence of vinyl albums that have taken place recently. This sets the musician and graphic designer a challenge that can be difficult to address as the images created fort each musician need to have an impact as a small thumbnail on a screen and larger formats. A graphic designer will help create a brand for a musician that will include scalable images for every format needed.

3. YouTube Should not be Ignored

Streaming services may be changing the way music is delivered, but YouTube remains one of the most important aspects of the music industry in the digital age. The video provider has become the second-most visited website in the world, according to Music Think Tank. The sheer volume of video viewers making their way to YouTube means a musician needs to create a homepage for their channel with a graphic designer making it attractive and instantly recognizable. Graphic designers can take a look at every aspect of a YouTube channel from video thumbnails to the design of branding across the site.

4. Creating Interactive Experiences

The interaction between musicians and their followers has never been greater with social media platforms changing the way we view our favorite artists. Alongside the launch of new music, certain musicians are looking to the work of designers to make a major change to the way they are viewed by fans. Music has moved off turntables and streaming devices to become performance art for many artists and their fans, in the view of Jeffrey English Hoboken. A prime example of this is the interactive museum exhibits created by artists such as Bjork that combine music with design and virtual reality to create a unique experience. Their experiences take the viewer closer to the vision of the artist through the collaborative experience undertaken with a graphic designer of their choice, AIGA reports.

5. Budgets can be Stretched

Many musicians believe they cannot work with a graphic designer unless they have a large budget that allows them to work with major agencies. Attracting an audience to a new or up-and-coming musician means taking advantage of the skills an individual designer has to offer. One area that shows the impressive nature of a graphic designer is that of concert posters still used to advertise a performance. Well-known musicians, such as The Rolling Stones have built brands around their logos and iconic design choices that instantly attract fans to their shows. Live performance may take place in a local club or bar, but the work of a graphic designer can take the poster and turn it into an alluring image highlighting the musicians involved in a positive light